Linger Longer: Insider Claudine Julien’s NC Slow Travel Guide

Hey, it’s Claudine — Visit NC content creator, wanderer and music lover with a camera always in hand. Over the last two years, I’ve been on a mission: to capture North Carolina not just as a place, but as a feeling. And what I’ve found is that the most powerful travel moments aren’t always loud or adrenaline-fueled. Sometimes, they’re quiet. Sometimes, they ask you to sit still. These are three places that made me stop, breathe and feel the real North Carolina.

Dobra Tea

Asheville

I found out about Dobra Tea years ago, back when I spent summers in the mountains at an art residency. All of us on that music and arts farm would pile into a car and drive down to Asheville for new adventures. The group would go our separate ways — some of us would busk, some would get lost in Downtown Books & News, and me? I always looked forward to trying new drinks and soaking up the vibe in Dobra. Low lighting, a menu that reads like a sacred scroll and tiny, thoughtful cups of tea from all over the world. It’s the kind of place that doesn’t rush you. I love the Japanese matcha, served traditionally, and here’s another little tip: take your tea into the tatami room, slip off your shoes and just be. No email, no itinerary — just the sound of kettle steam and the occasional strum of a sitar on the playlist.

Morehead Manor

Durham

If these walls could talk, they’d sing jazz. Morehead Manor is a Black-owned bed and breakfast tucked into the heart of Durham’s cultural corridor, and every corner of the house is filled with soul. I got to experience this amazing inn when shooting a video for Black History Month in 2024, and wow, was there a history to tell. The innkeepers, Monica and Daniel, treated me like family — the kind that cooks you a homemade breakfast with fresh-baked muffins and sends you off with a map marked in Sharpie. My room had big bay windows and a record player, and I spent the morning listening to piano being played by another guest in the great room and browsing all the books they had in their study. If you want to feel the heartbeat of Durham, start here.

Southport Area

Southport and Oak Island

Southport is one of those towns that asks you to take your watch off. I grew up by the water, in Fort Lauderdale to be exact, and something about this beach town on the Cape Fear River felt like coming home, except way more chill than where I’m from. The boardwalk winds past old maritime buildings, seafood shacks and shaded benches made for long conversations. I brought a sketchbook and spent a whole afternoon drawing pelicans. When sunset hits, grab a treat from Flava's and walk the waterfront, or take a drive to Oak Island and stroll the beach. And hey — while you're here, leave the beach better than you found it. Pick up litter, knock down your sandcastle and give the sea turtles space to do their thing. It’s part of being a good guest in this place that gives so much.